Review: Senior Rio Tequila

This tequila brand got its start only two years ago. Distribution is now crawling its way across the U.S. (now including California, Oregon, Arizona, and Tennessee). We got our hands on samples of each of the distillery’s three expressions. All are, of course, 100% blue agave and 80 proof.

Senor Rio Blanco Tequila – Unaged and clear as a bell. Huge agave nose. On the tongue, peppermint, more agave pepper, and a finish that suggests jalapeno and spice. Not a lot of secondary nuance, just authentic agave character. A solid, big, and flavorful tequila, but with a moderate, even thin body. Prepare yourself accordingly. B+ / $45

Senor Rio Reposado Tequila – Aged 6 months. Immediately more intriguing, but still a ton of agave on the nose and the palate. Some caramel and vanilla notes tantalize you on the tip of your tongue, but they are overwhelmed in short order by that rich agave. Bigger, fuller body here, with a long, spicy finish. B+ / $65

Senor Rio Anejo Tequila – Aged over a year. Senior Rio comes into its own with this anejo, a full, balanced, and delicious sipping tequila with a deep and big blend of caramel notes and agave. Surprisingly light in color, it’s much sweeter than the reposado, silky and lush. The agave still makes its presence known, but here everything works pretty well together. A- / $75